JLC has years of experience providing Legionella bacteria testing, risk assessments, and consulting services to real estate owners and managers, commercial, healthcare, and institutional facilities facing Legionella concerns. Legionella bacteria is a ubiquitous, naturally occurring, thermophilic, waterborne bacterium found in freshwater environments and man-made water systems. While more than 65 species of Legionella have been identified, approximately 27 are known to cause human illness, with Legionella pneumophila responsible for nearly 90% of reported cases. The two primary illnesses associated with Legionella exposure are Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of pneumonia, and Pontiac fever, a milder, flu-like illness. Whether involving domestic water systems, cooling towers, decorative fountains, spas, hot tubs, or other building water systems, our team has successfully managed a wide range of projects while working closely with local New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) and following guidance established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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Legionella bacteria can colonize building hot/warm water systems and spread through aerosolized water generated by showers, hot tubs, decorative fountains, cooling towers, and other HVAC-related equipment. When inhaled, contaminated water droplets expose occupants to Legionella, potentially resulting in negative health effects. As awareness and reported cases continue to rise, proactive testing, monitoring, and water management have become increasingly important.

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Our Legionella Services:

• Prepare Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) to evaluate the water systems.

• Review construction and renovation history, identify potential risk factors.

• Pinpoint areas susceptible to Legionella growth.

• Develop customized water sampling plans to evaluate domestic water systems, circulation loops, storage tanks, cooling towers, and other building-specific water system components.

• Conduct representative water sampling, including the incoming municipal water supply and multiple proximal and distal outlets, to provide a comprehensive assessment of water quality and identify potential areas of concern.

• Interpret laboratory results and prepare detailed reports to summarize findings, assess potential risks, and provide practical recommendations for corrective actions when necessary.

• Assist property owners and facility managers with both short-term remediation efforts and long-term water management strategies to improve water quality and reduce the risk of future Legionella growth.